If you want to be sure to get the best plan of treatment for scar reduction, you could see a plastic surgeon. There are cremes and silicone patches which can effectively reduce scars over time.

I had Mohs surgery on my face for a skin cancer, and the doctor was very attentive to the fact that I didn't want a noticeable scar, so I followed his directions for scar reduction, and it's barely visible (among the wrinkles...lol).

Just remember to wait to apply the Mederma until the incision is fairly well healed before applying it. I don't know if I was allergic or did something wrong, but I got to where it itched a lot near the end. I think the cream worked better when I combined it with the medical paper tape covering the wound. Hope that helps! P.S. They told me to use the tape to keep the wound from spreading, and I started using that the moment I was done with surgery.

I talked to the pharmacist yesterday and after looking at my scar she suggested I wait on the silicone patch until it heals a little longer. But I have plenty of paper tape and might try that. Don't seem to be sensitive to the Mederma (yet).

Mederma worked very well for me!

I have heard putting vitamin e oil is helpful but have no personal experiences.
Wow what an awesome x-ray! Are you feeling better now?
When the vet did surgery on my Dane he gave me some oil type liquid to rub on the scar tissue and told me that light massage was good it would lessen the scar build up.

Do you remember that Elizabeth Taylor needed an emergency tracheotomy? She was rather proud of her symbol of survival, but learned that large jewels set in dramatic jewelry can help hide scars too. Just another helpful hint.

I've never heard of Maderma, but like Raven said, Vitamin E is a healer and does help in scar reduction. After my hysterectomy due to uterine cancer, the oncologist was amazed at how good my scar looked. I told him that good old vitamin E does wonders and he just smiled and nodded in agreement. So many doctors aren't trained in vitamins. I did wait until my incision was completely knitted before using the E. Itching of any cut or incision is usually a sign of healing.

Still keeping you in my prayers, Jodi.

Scarguard
Silicone patches
Vitamin E oil

I used Vitamin E oil or lotion, can't remember, way after the fact, like weeks later, and my incision scar is about 99% gone now.

Impressive xray, Jodi! So glad that's over for you. Are you feeling a lot better?

Wow Jodi!!! That X-Ray is something. It's hard to believe that a surgery like that is even possible in that area. I hope that you are feeling well, and better every day. Don't worry about the scar, as long as you're OK. It will reduce in size and lighten over time and the topical applications can help. If you're still not satisfied over time, you might want to look into scar reduction by a very good cosmetic surgeon.

Will you be able to add some Push Pins by Halloween for the Frankenstein look?

Mine did heal so well that it barely shows and hope yours will also...but with my rolls of fat, who knows?

I might add that that's the best my neck has looked (alignment-wise) in ten years!

I hadn't really thought about a cosmetic surgeon to fix the scar. I guess I'm all tapped out when it comes to seeing doctors. I'd like an entire year ... okay, let's be realistic ... an entire 6 months to pass without having to see a doctor.

I'll post the anterior view of the x-ray later.

The photo below is of me taken on Monday at our annual Labor Day block party. We've hosted the party for over 25 years. Was not going to let the surgery keep us from having friends over. Besides, it's was an easy way to satisfy everyone's curiosity about the surgery. Everyone got to see me and hear about it all at once.

Jodi-

Jodi you are so beautiful! So glad it has all worked out for you, you are lucky you did it when you did. We will be getting cooler weather soon, and you can wear lots of scaves and turtle necks XO

Funny you should say that YL, I just messaged a friend on Facebook and told him I was happy colder weather was on its way so I could hide my scar. :-) Hey, next time you're in town, stop by for a visit, I'm working from home for a couple of months.

Jodi-

Amazing X-ray. Glad to see you smiling & all went well!! :)

Jodi, for Halloween, you could go as a turtle. LOL You are as pretty as ever. That collar looks uncomfortable though.

Here is a front view of my hardware. Gads, I look so asymmetrical. ... sigh

This post was edited by jodi_in_so_calif on Fri, Sep 5, 14 at 11:57

Jodi, I think you'll be surprised to see how the scar improves and fades so much with time.

I can barely see my long scar from my hip replacement. However, I have other scars that didn't improve as I hoped and I truly believe it has a lot to do with the person closing the incision.

You look pretty as ever and I know you'll be so relieved to be rid of the collar.

Jodi, I'm so glad you are home and healing well. You look as beautiful as ever. I remember reading some research about reducing scars and the upshot was that it was the massage of the tissue that helped no matter what substance was used to aid in the massage...vitamin E, Mederma, olive oil, etc. Time is a great healer, too. One of my scars, now ten years old, is amazingly reduced and faded from its original appearance.

You look GREAT after all this trauma!

You might want to take down the X-Rays with identifying information.

I hope yours turns out better than my daughters did.
Her surgery was in Feb.

Doctor said it would be in a fold but it wasn't and it is still red, hard and sticks out. She hates it.

Just removed the info off both x-rays and reposted. Thanks for the reminder.

One of the (many) reasons I put this surgery off for so long (I should have had it done ten years ago) was vanity. I may be 61 but I have very few wrinkles and my neck was flawless. I didn't have a wrinkle or fold to hide even a freckle. This scar looks like Jack the Ripper got a hold of me. Oh well, only time will tell how it all works out. In the meantime, Mederma, vit E and ... now I'll try olive oil.

Jodi-

Pattico, tell your daughter not to give up on the scar treatment. She should not suffer with it because it can be helped. The silicone pads are supposed to help even old scars. Not inexpensive, but I got the CVS ones which look like the same thing to me, but cheaper. If she doesn't want to leave them on all the time, she could at least do at night. Or better yet, see a dermatologist for specific instructions. Please encourage her; she won't be sorry.

The main thing is the surgery is over, all went well and to be pain free will be worth it! I, too, have heard that vitamin E cream is good for scars.

Easier said than done I'm sure, but I'd be kind of proud of it.

Jodi, you look great and happy. I'm glad your surgery went well and I wish you continued happy healing.

I found this in a search. It had some remedies I wasn't aware of. I have no idea how they'll work, but thought I would share the article for your review.
http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Scars

Here is a link that might be useful: Scar Therapy

Fun2bhere ... thanks for the link. I knew about several of them but a couple surprised me, like lemon. YIKES! I'm gonna wait about ten years before I start putting acid on my scar. :-)

I went out and bought some new vitamin E and some ScarAway silicone patches. I think I'm pretty set now.

Been taking daily photos so I can chronicle the changes in the scar as time goes by. Should be interesting.

Thats a great idea! Sometimes its harder to notice a gradual change. Of course there's a big scar with all that going on. At least its over. Did you ask the DR about the scar? I think a dermatologist is a good idea too if you aren't seeing changes in a couple of months.

I'm just hoping it was a successful surgery!! I know what you mean about the scars...but in the end...I'm betting you'll be glad you had it done...I used Vitamin E on my rotator scars 6 years ago...have used mederma this time...really can't see much difference and the vitamin E was a whole lot cheaper!

Glad you are on the road to recovery. I also put mine off for several years. Have faith in the scare being less noticable. You can't see mine at all and even where he took the skin patch from my upper chest has all but disappeared. I had mine done 3 years ago, and it was about 6 months, before it was not the first thing I saw when I looked in the mirror. There are so many cute neck coverings, you can really be styling!

Did you read the ingredients on Mederma? Allium. As a gardener, I knew ;) I bet you do too! Onion. I bet lemon could work, even to get rid of dark spots. Hm.

Cathy, good to hear your scar is not noticeable. I just hope yours was as nasty looking as mine is. I just can't image this thing flat and gone the way it looks now.

I had no idea allium was onion. Just happy it doesn't smell like onion. ick.